davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
USES OF SLATE.
Various Purposes to Which This Service
able Substance Is Devoted.

Various Purposes to Which This Service
able Substance Is Devoted.
Slate is not confined to its use as a
roofing material by any means, but,
on the contrary, is probably mare uni
versally used than any other stone. In
composition and texture, it is admira-
bly, adapted to the reception of carved
ard nodded designs, is susceptible of 8
high polish, and possesses great power
of resistance to the principal destruc-
tive elements, besides having the adj
ditional merit of wide range of color,
embracing black, dark blue, purple,
purple-clouded green, gray-clouded
green, light green and a clear, bright
red. The scope of consumption is
rapidly expanding. and among the
uses to which slate is applied the fol-
lowing may be enumerated: Tagging,
flooring, floor tiles, molding for tiles,
vestibule trimmings, slabs, ETC.. wains-
coting,-, mantels, hearthstones, steps,
risers, platforms, stills and lintels,
turned balusters, laundry and bath
tubs, sinks and water trays, meat and
water tanks, refrigerator and cooling
room shelves, cistern Innings. brewers
watts. managers, butchers and curriers'
tables, bar fixtures, billiard table beds,
urinais, school states and blackboards,
countertops, vault work. grave Innings
and covers and memorial tablets. OF
the above, no record of production or
value can be obtained that would prove
at all useful as basis for estimates.
Possibly, faint idea of the proportions
devoted to these various uses might be
obtained from the production of the
Slatington (Pa.) section, where be-
sides an output of 100000 squares of
roofing slate, there were also made Gin
1880, in round numbers, $4,000 cases
of school states, $3.50 pieces, or 1,430
cases, or % carloads, of tagging, $500
cases of blackboards, 80 cases of man.
tells and hearths and AZ carloads of
shaved slate.-Mi,aeraI Resources Of the
Tinted STATES
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
Snobbery at the Counter.

In one of Boston's prominent dry
goods establishments, while lady was
making some purchases, her attention
was called to a colloquy between q
prospective purchaser and salesman
The party desiring the goods asked to
be shown what she required, and being
accommodated in that particular exam
ined the article deliberately and care
fully. and expressed the greatest salts
faction, saying it was just exactly what
she wanted. Then, turning to the
salesman, she asked: What did you
say is the price per yardP' Twenty
five cents" came the reply. "Whyr
Indignantly exclaimed the aroused Gus
toner, putting the goods from her with
a gesture of contempt, Il don't want it
then. 1 want to pay fifty cents a
yard" and she tossed her head in the
air, inquiring. 'Where can get what
Iwant?''-Boston Budget
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
THE POND-LILY MAN.
How He Sold Out His Stock of Buds anu
Flowers in Trice.

How He Sold Out His Stock of Buds anu
Flowers in a Trice.
He appeared suddenly at the door OF
a fashionable boarding house the other
day, wearing a bland smile and a seer
sucker suit.
The ladies were all grouped on the
veranda in breakfast costumes.
Ladies'" he said, doffing his hat, "a
gentleman who boards here asked me
to bring this basket of lilies and pre-
sent it with his compliments to the
prettiest lady here.''
There was a moments pause, and
then maiden who had seen many
summers, asked sharply:
"Well, why don't you present it?"
The man made d. predatory bow.
How can 1, missp He forgot to
give me any address. and couldn't
pick out one from so many"
..What did he look like?" asked all
the ladies at once.
Very distwangey, with light mus
tache, or femme see, was it dark? l
kind of disremember the color. But
that's what he said-the prettiest
lady"
could it have been Mr. Do you
suppose he ordered them for that horrid
Miss-P'
more likely for the Widow"
alt must have been Captain"
al hate to take them back" said the
man, refectively. IF the lady he
meant will pick herself out, I'll give
her the lilies" and he twirled one fra
grant bud in his hand.
81 suppose you couldn't sell us any
of Them" murmured a sweet old thing
who EneaO she was the 'One' meant
81 could sell you all together, but
not to one; that wouldn't be fair.
You see the gentleman will know
I couldn't afford to lose the sale of
'em. Six for five cents, ladies. If 1
can't find the right one faint my fault
an never see s'many pretty ladies
afore in my life"
I'll take bunchr'
'IAEd l.
The basket was soon emptied. Al
dinner every lady wore lily in her
hand or at her belt, and Mr.. - and
Captain - were smiled upon by turns
by the whole posse of female bcarders
to their great surprise.
'.Good heavens! what have we done
to deserve it?" asked the gentlemen
If each other, as they were thanked
for their good intentions
The ladies do not know yet that they
were the victims of a commercial Tuse
On the part of the lily vender.-De-
troit Free Press.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
A Vail of Great Value.

The church of Meixotl, Mexico, con-
tains remarkable vail of great value.
For nearly three centuries Spaniards
were in the habit of vowinga jewel to
the vail of Our Lady of Mexico if they
returned safely from voyage to Spain.
until in Maximilian's time the vail was
bejeweled to the value of about S40,-
600 Three German adventures, after
Maximilian's failure, determined to
carry away this vail as booty. They
made theirSplan with great care and
caution and secured the vail. bur IN
some way they were discovered, and a
party of pursuers overlook them in q
narrow pass, where two Of them were
killed. the third escaping under cover
of Misunderstanding behind him, how
ever. the precious vail, which was re.
gained and restored TO the altar, whers
IT is more vigilantly guarded than evse
-TCo Republics. tE
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
INTERESTING FACTS.
The Comparative Longevity of the Male
and Female Sexes.

The Comparative Longevity of the Male
and Female Sexes.
The Hebrew women are the longest
lived, and the colored men the shortest.
1t appears from gathered statistics of
the world that women have greater
tenacity of life than men. Nature
worships the female in all its varieties.
Among insects the male perishes at a
relatively earlier period. In plants
the seminate blossoms die earliest, and
are produced in the weaker limbs. Fe-
male quadrupeds have more endurance
than males. In the human race,
despite the intellectual and physical
strength of the man, the woman en-
dures longest, and will bear pain to
which the strong man succumbs.
Zymotic diseases are more fatal to
males, and more male children die than
female. Deverga asserts that the pro-
portion dying suddenly is about 100
women to 700 men; 1,800 men in the
United States. in 1870, committed sui
eide, TO 285 women. Intemperance,
apoplexy, govt, hydrocephalus, affec-
tons of the heart or liver, scrofula,
paralysis, are more fatal to males than
females. Pulmonary consumption. on
the other hand, is more deadly to the
latter. Females in cities are more
prone to consumption than in the coun.
try. All old countries not disturbed
by emigration have a majority of fe-
males in the population. In royal
families the statistics show more daugh-
tiers than sons. The Hebrew woman
is exceptionally long lived, the colored
man exceptionally short lived. The
married state is favorable to prolonga-
ton of life among women. DR.. Hough
remarks that there are from two to six
ner cent. more males born than fe-
males, yet there is an excess OF more
than six per cent of females in the llv-
ing populations. = Popular Science
Nc1CS.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
LUCKY Me>HQUe.
A Mule Pensioned by the &c vernment for
Distinguished Service.


Distinguished Service.
There lives in this countr1-tO be
more particular, at Mount Vernon,
Ala--a unique animal This distin-
guished creature is a mule. 1t might
be supposed that its influences lies in
its kicking, but this is not the case. 1t
is unique because it has been regularly
pensioned by the United States Govern
ment- This lucky mules name is Mex
ique. He has had Il long and useful
career. He has certainly served his
country in two wars, and it is believed
that he enlisted in the army even as
early as the war of 1872. When ap-
plicatiOn was made for a pension for
Mexique his record was transmitted to
the War Department, the facts being
obtained from the special books III
which the careers of army horses and
mules are recorded. MeXique is now a
white mule, but he was sOrrel whom,
according TO the records. he entered
the service during the Mexican war
A part of the army, when on its home
ward march in 1649, left him at Tampa.
Fla.
When the civil war broke out he
was still at Tampa, and during the
war he served throughout the
region between that place and Key
West. In 1882 the post at Tampa
was Abandoned, and Mexique about
Christmas time arrived with Battery
L, Third Artillery, at the barracks,
Mount Vernon, Aha. He was not in
oh
leaving Tampa, he got a severe kicking
from mare for attacking her colt.
Soon afterward the officer in COM
mand at Mount Vernon Barracks was
ordered to sell all unserviceable draught
animals at auction. This would have
included Mexique. In consideration of
distinguished service of this mule the
commandment petitioned to the Quarter
master-General that MeXique be al
lowed to remain in the service, with
full rank and pay. as the officers of the
post were willing to raise a fund for
that purpose. The petition, going up
through the different departments,
reached General Sherman. who, in re-
ferring the matter to the War Depart
partment, wrote:
have seen that mule. and, whether the story
be true or false, the soldiers believe il left
at Big Springs. where Mount Vernon Barracks
are, at the time General Jackson en-
camped there about 1919 10 1920 Tradition
says it a sorrel, buf now il is white
from age. The Quartermaster's Department
will be charg-ablc with ingratitude II that mule
is sold or the care and maintenance Of IL thrown
on the charitable officers of the post. advise
that it be kept in the department, fed and
maintained till death. 1 think the mule was in
Fort Morgan when was there in 1872.
Upon this the Secretary of War
issued the following order:
Let this mule be well cared for as long as he
lives,
Mexique is now feeble. According
to General Sherman he is now nearly
seventy years old. He has never re-
covered from the mares kick. He has
the liberty of the reservation, and
many distinguished strangers have
called on him. He is very lucky
mule-N y SIM
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
THE GAMBLING MANIA.
An Evil Which Is Spreading Everywhere
to an Alarming Extent.
rYxI e L -

An EVIL u hich Is Spreading EveryWhers
to an Alarming Extent.
The effect of the existing bucket
shop craze upon the boys and young
men in every branch of industry in
downtown New York is its most
Serious aspect It is catching among
them. and they are putting in many a
/ dollar that they do not take out
Every little while one OF them makes a
lucky hit, and all of his comrades hear
of it and get the fever. The boy of
| the period can buy share of stock, or
| a barrel of oil OF Il bushel of grain on
paper for a dollar, or ten shares for $40
or 100 shares for 800. He is an Office
boy or a clerk ON So or so week.
He makes lucky hit, and finds him
self few dollars ahead. He neglects
his work or throws up his situation. or
hangs on. thinking of nothing but the
bucket shop and its easy method of
giving him money. All notions of
honest, old-fashioned work leave his
brain, and he becomes good for moth
ing at 4 very early age.
The craze for betting on horse races
has grown apace since the mutual pool
system has become so common. The
old-fashioned auction pool is yet very
popular with those who desire to wager
any considerable sums of money, but
the mutual pools admit of buying
chances for the small sum of
81, and that 81 may return
the investor any sum from itself to
500 or even $50. The common mutual
pool ticket costs S. and the next most
popular one So. 1t is common enough
for these to pay ten or twenty times
their price, and fascination of big pos
sible winnings on small investments is
what makes the race tracks so success
full hereabOuts. The result of this
craze, which has grown like volcano
since the pool bill became law, is the
establishment of hundreds of places in
the city where tickets may be had on
the sly. 1t promises to develop yet
more as the season advances. With
the tracks at jerome Park, Sheepshead
Bay, Gravesend, Brighton, Monmouth
Park, Gutenberg and Clifton, there
isn't day save Sunday, from April to
January, in which there are not races.
Hundreds of people flock to them to
bet, and thousands stay at home and
bet through the tracks agents and the
city pool selling places.
1t may be added the bar-rooms are
constantly adding devices and ma
chimes of chance with which luck may
be tempted, the defeated ones to pay
for the drinks, of course. 1t is plain, too,
that the idlers in the parks and the
Inewsboys and bootblacks in the alleys
are pitching pennies to degree never
before noticed. 1t is alss common
enough to see two well dressed men
seat themselves in horse car and then
proceed gravely to match dimes to see
which man pays the fare of both. So
in little things rs we'll as in more eX-
tensive transactions the mania to gam
BILE crops out and becomes more con-
spicuous.-N Y Cor. Providence Jour-
nal
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04

The Scottish people classify butter
in three divisions, known as fresh.
powdered and cured. Powdered"
butter is slightly sailed, and ''cured"
butter is saltcd enough to keep through
the season. The butter going over
there from the United States is .'cured,"
and for that reason, if there were no
other. is forced into third place in the
market.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04

Homemade Syrup. = To four
pounds of sugar add one and one-half
pints of water and a small teaspoon of
pulyerized alum. Boil three minutes.
Strain while hot. The sugar may be
either granulated, or light brown, rs
preferred. The same rule applied to
maple sugar makes delicious maple
syrup.-Good Cheer.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04

"A lady one day sent her little boy
to drug store near by after a porous
plaster. When he came back he hand
ed it to her, saying: This is the poor
est one I could get"
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04

1t is all very well to begin with
''tV-o souls with but single thought
two hearts that beat as one" Care
should be taken that the two hearts be
not soon detected in beating each
other.-Bostoa Post.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04

The longest prize fight IN the his
tory of Pacific coast sports Was fought
near Portland. Ore, few days ago.
Sixty-nine rounds were fought in four
hours and a half, but the fight ended
in a draw.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04

Unrestricted competition -ough;
not to be bugbear to resolute and ca
pable men--L0ndon Agricultural Ga
set<e.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04

Total product of silver in Nevada.
three hundred and @fty-two million
dollars.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-09
That Five Ohio" Satler.

In May, 1861, an Englishman named
Ezekiel was appointed sutler OF the
Fifth Ohio. A few days after he had
got his stock opened Colonel Dunning
met him and asked him how he was
pleased with his new business.
so, first rate, was the reply.
"The boys patronize you, then?" pur-
sued the Colonel.
"Yes, indeed. It is the best and live
lest trade l ever struck" said the suit
Ter.
The Colonel then asked what compa-
MES dealt with him most literally.
co." said Ezekiel, "they all do pretty
we'll, but Company J buy the most
Company j." said Dunning; "you
mean Company I, don't you?"
SHAW, I dawn't," said Ezekiel; them
- fellers in Company Hi dawn't buy
nawthin' scarcely. Hi mean Compa-
The Colonel tried to explain that
there was no Company J, but the sut-
Ter wouldn't have it, and triumphantly
produced his books, showing the orders
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-09

illustrious General, who commanded
during the famous charge, into most
conspicuous prominence. The three
days conflict which practically termin-
ated in the repulse of the Confederate
army needs no repetition here, as
history has heralded and chronicled
the sanguinary deeds of that day
sufficiently. General George E. Pick
EFT was born at Richmond, Virginia,
January 25, 1925; he was re-
ceived as a cadet at West Point, gradu-
ating from that academy in the year
1916, from which time his war service
soon began. He participated in the war
with Mexico, from the battle of Vera
Cruz to the capture of the City of Mex
leo. He was brevetted First Lieutenant
and Captain for galla1try at Contreras,
Churubusco, and Chapultepec; he was
placed on front er duty from 1916 until
1861, when he resigned on June 25 Of
the latter year. In September General
Pickett was appointed Colonel in the
Confederate army, and Brigadier and
Major General in the following year.
He participated in many notable bat
ties, was wounded at Cold Harbor, and
his final stand and surrender was in
1865, at Five Forks. He died at Nor
folk, Va, in July, 1875.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-09
lump of sugar may be taken inwardly.
Every family should have bottle on hand.
Protection against cold.


Few are aware of the killing powers Of
intense cold and great heat, even in this
comparatively temperate climate. Now
the fact that the increase in the mortality
affects chiefly the young and old, as we'll
as those who are either suffering from, or
are predisposed to, affections OF the chest
and throat, indicates the class Of people
who should be especially careful to protect
themselves. With regard to children, the
system of hardening" them, by allowing
them to go thinly clad, and exposing them
which the minds of some parents are even
now not altogether free. 1t is thought
that If their chests are kept warm, there
is no need of caring about their arms or
legs. But that is q great mistake. In
proportion as the upper and lower extrem-
tiles are we'll clothed will the circulation
be kept up and determined to tho surface
of those parts; and in proportion to the
quickness and equable distribution of the
circulation will be the protection against
those internal congestions which are but
the first stage of the most fatal diseases of
infancy and childhood. The same observa-
ton holds good with respect to grown-up
people who are predisposed to pulmonary
complaint. There is no exaggeration in
saying that the mortality from these and
other affections would be considerably
diminished, were people to avoid that
Catching cold" of which they 20 often and
so lightly speak; and it is a matter of sur
prise to us that this fact, OF which most of
US are aware, does not lead to more pre-
cautions being taken by those who are
that of others. To take care that tie
body is thoroughly warm and well-clothed
just before going out in very cold weather
to keep up the circulationI and warmth
of the body rather by exercise of some
kind than by sitting over great fires or in
overheated rooms-to be sure that the
temperature of the sleeping apartment
is not even so many degrees below that of
the sitting-room-these are three golden
maxims, attention to which would prevent
thousands from catching that chill" or
"cold" to the results of which 80 many
valuable lives have been prematurcly sacri-
feed
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-09
THE HORTICULTURIsT.
os,c of the attractions of Earn. life.
circumstances.

| VIC " uNc <atTUCLSOUS " ENfM LLCs
Horticulturist is subordinate to agricul-
ture in its widest definition, but occupies o
commanding position with reference to the
greater delicacy of its operations, and it's
/ intimate relation to the finer attributes of
the homes of people. The pioneer in q
new country usually carries on very little
of horticulture, yet he lives far beneath his
possibilities on this very account. The
bonanza farmer cares nothing for horti-
culture, and knows nothing of the delight
full poetical associations of farm life. The
charm of rural occupation lies in the field
| of horticulture, and every farmhouse
should be surrounded by the accompani-
ments of an advanced horticulture. It
may have been grand to have had heoric
men and women brave the privations and
dangers of pioneer life to secure highly
cultivated acres for their children, but it is
heathenish for those children to live upon
these same farms without the highest en-
belishments and most delicate comforts
that an advanced horticulture can afford.
The attractions of American farm life
lie almost wholly in the breadth and de-
lightful variety of American horticulture.
We cannot afford to live upon farms without
absorbing and employing the horticultural
agencies that elevate farm life above the
level Of drudgery into the realm of art, and
the sensible farmer will find that this
poetry of farm life has in it something
less ethereal than rhyme and rhythm. In
it lie many of the substantial accompani-
ments of rural life which give comfort to
the grosser man, while contributing to his
higher nature.
TO the professional man, whose early
education led him to imbibe some Of the
methods of successful horticulture there is
nothing in the way Of occupation having
greater attractions, toward the close of an
active life, than rural home. with its
health giving occupations and contribu-
tons to the table, to which are added the
artistic embellishments that appeal SO di-
rectly to the hearts of men when connected
with kindly associations and thoughtful
attentions. u lecture By Chas. w
Garfield. of Grand RAPIDS.